668 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES 



ORANGEBURG (S. C.) SUBSTATIONS 

 [G. W. HooFNAGLE, Superintendent] 



Although no anadromous fishes are handled at the Orangeburg (S. C.) station, 

 the bureau operated several substations in South Carolina which handle shad, 

 with the Orangeburg station as headquarters. 



Jacksonboro {S. C.) substation. — This auxiliary was in operation during the 

 shad spawning season in March and April and a total of 4,865,000 shad eggs were 

 collected, from which 2,884,000 fry were hatched and planted. About one-third 

 of the number produced were planted in a flooded rice field 40 acres in area to be 

 held until fall, when the pond will be drained and the shad liberated in the Edisto 

 River. The production at this station was much larger than last year, and it is 

 probable that it can be further augmented by entering into closer cooperation with 

 the local shad fisherinen. Troul^le was experienced in securing male fish during 

 the early part of the season but it was finally overcome by using a 4}^-inch mesh 

 net. During the latter part of the season the males are of very small size, and 

 they were able to pass through the mesh of the net being used. 



Georgetown {S. C.) substation. — The take of shad eggs in this field was very 

 small, the season's collection amounting to only 208,000. From this stock 104,000 

 fry were developed and liberated in the Black River. From the experience gained 

 during the season it is believed that the hatchery was located too near brackish 

 water and that much better results might be obtained by conducting the opera- 

 tions 50 miles farther up the river. 



Yemassee (S. C.) substation. — The initial year's work at this point included the 

 collection and incubation of 394,000 shad eggs and the return of the resulting 

 fry to the spawning grounds in the Combahee River. As at Jacksonboro, a 

 shortage of male fish hindered the operations during the greater part of the season. 

 There is promise of greater returns in this field if the fishermen can be brought to 

 realize that the work being done is for their direct benefit. 



CRAIG BROOK (ME.) STATION 



[George N. Montgomery, Superintendent] 



In the course of the year the bureau secured by exchange a total of 4,000,000 

 eyed Atlantic-salmon eggs from the Canadian Government. Due to the crowded 

 conditions at the Craig Brook hatchery, 3,000,000 of these were reshipped to 

 hatcheries operated by the State of Maine, with the view of having them reared 

 to large fingerlings and yearling sizes and then deposited in waters connected 

 with the Atlantic Ocean. Additional shipments included 25,000 to the Nashau 

 (N. H.) station, 25,000 to the State of California, and 200,000 to the Grand 

 Lake Stream substation. The fingerhng fish resulting from the 679,500 retained 

 at Craig Brook hatchery were liberated in the Penobscot River, the Maine 

 Fisheries Department cooperating in the distribution. During 1931 the largest 

 run of Atlantic salmon in years entered the Penobscot River. Both gill-net 

 and weir fishermen reported good catches, and hook and line fishermen at the 

 Bangor pool caught more than ever before to their recollection. The consensus 

 is that the increased run is due to the bureau's activities in the propagation of 

 this species. It is very probable that the practice followed within the past few 

 years of raising fish to fingerling sizes before releasing them is largely responsible 

 for the increased results. No other explanation appears plausible. 



FISHES OF MINOR INTERIOR WATERS 



The propagation of game fishes is mainly confined to inclosed 

 waters. Variations in the supply of fish in these waters are so 

 noticeable that it is comparatively easy to trace the causes of in- 

 crease or decrease. This condition makes apparent to the angling 

 public the results of fish-cultural methods, thereby enhancing the 

 value of such work. 



It is the policy of all conservation organizations throughout the 

 United States that the public waters shall be kept as well stocked 

 as possible with game fishes because of the value of these fish in the 

 recreational life of the people. There are few sections of the coun- 



